SGG Case Study: Co-op Building

The Concept

The idea here was to make of One Angel Square a high-sustainable office building landmark. Construction work began in 2010 and upon completion in March 2013, it will serve as the head office of the Co-operative Group in Manchester, England.

The Challenge

The challenge was to make of One Angel Square one of the most sustainable large buildings in Europe and to have a BREEAM 'Outstanding' rating.

The building will be powered by a biodiesel cogeneration plant using rapeseed oil to provide electricity and heat.

The structure makes use of natural resources, maximizing passive solar gain for heat and using natural ventilation through its double-skin facade, adiabatic cooling, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and waste heat recycling.

The Realization

The building's distinctive form has been compared to a sliced egg and a ship. Its design was announced by architects 3DReid in May 2009 and construction began in July 2010 with a projected completion date in March 2013.

Saint-Gobain Glass provided more than 10,000sq metres of glazing for the unique building’s envelope. The outer skin is made up of 17.5mm STADIP, constructed of two 8mm sheets of heat-treated PLANILUX float glass laminated together using a 1.52mm clear PVB for safety and security.

Business Unit Façade provided CLIMAPLUS, with a U-value of 1.0W/m2K, which provides the thermal insulating properties required for such an energy-efficient building.

The goal was achieved as the scheme surpassed its pan-European sustainability aims and achieved a world-record BREEAM score of 95.32%. It is also an energy-plus building, producing surplus energy and zero carbon emissions. The building received numerous awards for its striking aesthetic and sustainability aims.